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Silver Stars-Shock Preview

Aug 23, 2009 - 6:10 AM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

San Antonio (11-15) at Detroit (9-14), 6:00 p.m. EDT

The Detroit Shock and the San Antonio Silver Stars squared off for the WNBA title last fall. With both teams sitting below .500 with three weeks left in the regular season, a finals rematch doesn't look likely.

The Shock and Silver Stars look to improve their positions for a potential playoff run as they meet for the first time since the postseason Sunday night at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Detroit and San Antonio finished the 2008 season with the best records in their respective conferences before meeting in the finals in October. The Shock swept the Silver Stars in three games to capture their third championship in six years.

Neither club is in a particularly favorable position to contend again in 2009. Detroit (10-14) is in sixth place in the East, 1 1/2 games back of Washington and Chicago, tied for the fourth and final playoff spot. San Antonio (11-15) is tied with Minnesota for fourth place in the West.

The Shock had lost three straight before defeating Chicago 76-67 on Saturday night. Katie Smith scored 17 points while going 7 for 12 from the field and 3 for 6 from 3-point range.

"We came out and played very hard in the second half and locked in defensively," said coach Rick Mahorn, who replaced Bill Laimbeer three games into the season. "Katie Smith got some good open looks and when she gets looks like that she gets shots in."

The Shock hope for a similar performance as they try to regain last season's form for the stretch run.

"We're not out of the playoffs yet and we don't want to shut the doors on ourselves," guard Alexis Hornbuckle said. "Every game (now) is so important. We need consistency and we'll keep working at it."

The Silver Stars have dropped four of five, including a disheartening 67-66 overtime loss to Los Angeles on Friday night.

Sophia Young scored a career-high 31 points and Becky Hammon added 14 points, six assists and five rebounds. But Hammon missed a potential go-ahead layup in the closing seconds.

Hammon admitted she was frustrated she didn't get a whistle on the final play, but she's more concerned with getting the Silver Stars back to the postseason.

"There's nothing we can do about (Friday's game) now," Hammon said. "... What can we say, we're competing and we're not getting it done. I think we have eight games left, and we have to take control. We have to take control of our own destiny."

Hammon, a four-time All-Star, was held to 14.0 points and 30.3 percent shooting in three finals games against the Shock. Young averaged 15.7 points and shot 39.2 percent, both below her season averages.

Smith averaged 21.7 points and 6.7 rebounds while shooting 52.3 percent from the field and making eight of 14 3-point attempts to earn finals MVP honors.

These teams meet again Saturday in San Antonio.